Technology Endowment Created

AVID Volunteer Champion Pledges $1 Million To Fund Tech Endowment

Posted on 01/10/2018

A former district Volunteer of the Year and longtime champion of the district’s AVID programs has made yet another contribution to Rio Rancho Public Schools’ future: the establishment of a $1 million endowment fund to support future technology.

Captain Bruce Gustin has made supporting Rio Rancho students almost a second voluntary career. The retired Navy captain and pilot, who spent 39 years on active duty, was instrumental in founding and perpetuating

AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination),

a program which prepares

students in the “academic middle” for success in college. AVID is taught as an elective in middle and high schools, and provides academic mentorship as well as teaching students skills such as résumé-writing, researching, career planning, and time management. It gives students whose families may never have gone to college the confidence to know they can succeed in higher education.

Cap’t. Gustin has taught AVID at Eagle Ridge Middle Middle School for many years, and helped build their AVID program into one of the premier programs in the country. He is now focusing his efforts on establishing the district’s first elementary school AVID program at Rio Rancho Elementary. RRPS school board members, in accepting the endowment, all noted that Cap’t. Gustin’s financial contribution pales in comparison to the many students’ lives he has positively affected, and continues to affect, through his work with and mentorship of students in the classroom.

The endowment will be established after Cap’t. Gustin’s death. Annual interest generated by the endowment will be used to fund cutting-edge technology for classroom use.

“Email to be used by those with Hearing Difficulties for Attendance and Emergency messages only. General inquiry messages will not be answered. Please call the school if you require further assistance or information. Thank you.”